Life-preserver.



(No Model.)

Patented Dec, 26, i899. F. STRATTN-ER.

LIFE PRESEBVER.

(Application filed Apr. 22, 1899.

THE NORRIS PETERS co. PHOTO-LUNG" WASHINGTON. n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT 01mins.

FREDERICK STRATTNER, OF SALISBURY, MARYLAND.

LlFE-PRESERVER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 639,790, dated December26, 1899.

Application filed April 221 1899. Serial No. 714,097. (No model.)

To (ZZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK STRATT- NER, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Salisbury, in the county of Wicomico and State ofMaryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inLife-Preservers; andI do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

My invention relates to certain improvements in life-preservers and isequally applicable for submarine purposes.

It has for its object principally to promote safety and endurance of theperson in the water or surf and to enable his descent therein forsubmarine purposes. 7 t

It consists of the detailed construction and combination of parts,substantially as hereinafter more fully disclosed, and specificallypointed out in the claims. a

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating the preferred embodiment ofmy invention, Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the applicationthereof for use. Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional elevation thereof.

In carrying out my invention I employ a preferably cylindric closure orchamber A, subdivided into two compartments 0, a by a valved partition athe lower or respiratory compartment terminating in a laterally-extendedchamber or enlargement a if preferred, to increase buoyancy. Saidlast-described chamber or enlargement has a waste cook or Valve a forthe discharge of any water which might have entered the closure orchamberA through the air inlets or openings hereinafter referred to. Thechamber or enlargement a is adapted to conform to the outline of thecross-section of the body of the person to be equipped with the same,and to the exterior of said chamber are suitably attached straps a orother like means adapted to be secured around the body.

The upper compartment a of the chamber or closure A has a series of airinlets or openings a and similar air inlets or openings at in its upperend or top, and compassing the upper-compartment end of said closure orchamber is a lower open-ended cylinder orpiston B, with said end of saidpiston fitted closely to said chamber. Around the piston B and betweenit and the chamber A are ar-' ranged packing-rings b b, of rubber orflexible material, suitably seated in cavities 6 b formed in said pistonand chamber, respectively, to effectively pack the parts at said points.By this arrangement it will be seen that an air-pum p is provided tocharge or supply the reservoir-compartment a of the chamber or closure Awith air under pressure to aid respiration, said air being properlydelivered into the respiratory compartment a of said closure by means ofthe valve in the partition a The piston B has a springpressed air-inletvalve 19 in its upper end, being normally closed when the piston is atrest. Said piston has also depending from its upper end rods b passingthrough the upper end of the chamber or closure A and adapted to limitthe upward movement or stroke of said piston, also to prevent thecontacting of the packings b b in the movement of the piston. In theextreme upper end of the piston is a series of air-inlet openings I),through which the external air passes into the chamber A Via the valve19 For convenience to actuate the piston it is provided with a handle 19upon its extreme upper end.

0 is a flexible or elastic walled open chamber arranged upon the side ofthe closure or chamber A, and within said chamber are arranged two tubes0 c for the mouth and nose, respectively, communicating with therespiratory compartment a, said chamber being adapted to be held to theface of the person by straps c suitably adapted to be passed around andfastened upon the head.

It will be understood that a chute (not shown) may be put intocommunication with the respiratory compartment a of the chamber orclosure A, leading out beyond the outer end of said chamber or closureand having a valved outlet communicating with the external air, itsvalve adapted to open outward to permit egress of the air, but to cutoff accidental ingress of water.

It will be seen that with the device suitably strapped to the body andother part or head of the person to be equipped therewith, as hereinillustrated, after said device has been charged with air by suitablyactuating the piston B the person will be sustained or floated in thewater in case of a shipwreck or like emergency by reason of the buoyancyof said device; also, by the air circulation set up by the air underpressure in the closure-compartment a, delivered via the valve in thepartition ct into the respiratory compartment a and thence to thebreathing-organs of the person through the tubes 0 c in the chamber 0and by the valved tube aforesaid, the person is enabled to hold out orpossessed of greater endurance than could be otherwise the case.

- It will also be observed that this device could be used for submarinepurposes or as a diving-bell by connecting therewith a pipe or tubeextending to the surface and applying the piston thereto above thesurface and otherwise adapting it to serve as an air-pump. It will alsobe seen that the tubes 0 a may be omitted and direct communicationeffected between the flexible or elastic walled chamher 0 and therespiratory compartment a of the chamber or closure A; also, if desired,the lateral extension or enlargement a at the lower end of the chamberor closure A may be omitted or dispensed with.

It is obvious that the device may be applied to the back by suitablestraps, &c., instead of as shown. I have details of construction andfurther improvements upon this inveniion in view, which may be made thesubject of a later application; but the case herein shown and describedembodies the salient features of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. The life-preserver or float,comprising the chamber or closure, having respiratory and air-chargedcompartments, respiratory tubes, and a piston compassing the air-chargedcompartment of said chamber, and means adapted to permit the applicationof said closure or chamber to the body of a person, substantially as setforth.

2. The closure or chamber having an airreceiving com partment,andrespiratory tubes, and a hollow piston compassing said chamber orclosure and adapted to serve as a pump, and means adapted to permit theapplication of said closure or chamber to the body of a person,substantially as set forth.

3. The closure or chamber having aircharged and respiratory compartmentsand respiratory tubes, said compartments being separated by a valvedpartition, and a piston compassing said chamber or closure, and meansadapted to permit the application of said. closure or chamber to thebody of a person, substantially as set forth.

4. The closure or chamber having aircharged and respiratorycompartments, separated by a valved partition, and a piston compassingthe air-charged compartment of said closure, said chamber or closurehaving a flexible or elastic walled open chamber in communication withthe respiratory compartment and adapted to be applied to the face,substantially as set forth.

5. The closure or chamber having aircharged and respiratorycompartments, a piston compassing the air-charged compartment of saidclosure, and the lateral flexible or elastic walled face-chamberhavingbreathing tubes therein, and means to connect it to the head.

6. The closure or chamber having aircharged and respiratorycompartments, the lower end lateral enlargement or compartment, theflexible or elastic Walled face-chamber in communication with therespiratory compartment, and thehollow piston compassing the air-chargedcompartment of said chamher or closure and adapted to serve as anairpump, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination of the closure or chamber subdivided into air-chargedand respiratory compartments, and provided with respiratory tubes, thehollow piston compassing the air-charged compartment and packingarranged in cavities or depressions formed in said chamber or closureand piston, respectively, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination of the chamber or closure having respiratory andair-charged compartments separated by a valved partition, therespiratory compartment having a flGXl ble or elastic walledface-chamber, and the hollow piston compassing the air-chargedcompartment and provided with a valved airinlet and pendent guide-rodsadapted to move through the upper end of said chamber or closure apredetermined extent, said chamber or closure and piston, each havingair-inlet openings, means for actuating said piston, and means forapplying or connecting said closure or chamber to the body,substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

FREDERICK STRATTNER.

Witnesses:

P. J. McBnrnTY, HERBERT D. LAwsoN.

